The former chief executive and managing director of iconic Australian footwear brand RM Williams has joined the Queensland University of Technology’s Creative Enterprise Australia (CEA) startup hub, where he hopes to help fill the gaps for young entrepreneurs breaking into the creative tech and fashion space.

Hamish Turner headed up RM Williams as its managing director and chief executive from 2000 to 2014, seeing the company through a number of expansions, and left shortly after the business was sold to the private equity fund backed by fashion giant LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, in a deal reportedly worth around $100 million.

Turner was drawn into the startup space after seeing Brett Chenoweth appointed chairman of CEA in May earlier this year, telling StartupSmart that after their paths crossed some months later, he congratulated Chenoweth on the role. Turner had also been a long time fan of CEA’s work supporting for entrepreneurs in creative industries.